News from the glass and refractory ceramics world

PPG Industries announced the appointment of Michael H. McGarry, currently chief operating officer, to president and chief operating officer, effective March 1. McGarry became chief operating officer in August 2014.

Flat glass prices dipped slightly in January, decreasing 0.1% after a big jump of 1.8% in December, according to the latest Producer Price Index Report (PPI) issued by the U.S. Labor Department. The PPI program measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Operations at two Imerys Oilfield Solutions plants, including one in Andersonville, Ga. will cease for “an undetermined amount of time” due to the plummeting price of oil. Imerys did not immediately announce how many employees would be affected. The company said it had experienced a “substantial reduction in orders” over the last 60 days, and would “mothball’ its facilities in Andersonville. They said they would also reduce production at a plant in Wrens, Ga.